Patients at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in East Kent are experiencing a groundbreaking advancement in surgical procedures with the introduction of robotic surgery. On Thursday, 68-year-old Mandy Lee was the first patient to have bowel surgery with the robotic system, a revolutionary procedure. She was given a diagnosis with bowel cancer, with surgery to remove part of her bowel following soon after. She was excited but nervous about this new approach to care.
Lee’s surgery was directed by senior consultant colorectal and general surgeon Sudhaker Mangam. He delicately maneuvered a robotic system with four pupil-less arms, all remotely controlled for the utmost accuracy. This innovative technology has the potential to give surgeons a 360-degree look inside the patient’s body, leading to more accurate and less invasive interventions. After her June 24 operation, Lee went home June 30 and has been feeling progressively better each day, according to her.
“I hadn’t even considered the possibility of robotic surgery, but I just wanted the cancer gone and I wasn’t put off,” Lee said regarding her initial thoughts about the procedure.
The surgical team thoroughly explained the process to Lee, reassuring her that the robotic method had been successfully employed in other parts of Europe. They highlighted that the non-invasive procedure would be less painful than traditional, invasive surgery. This promise was an important factor in her decision to pursue it.
Indian Health Board CEO Sudhaker Mangam spoke to how critical this expansion is for local patients. He added, “This represents a significant step forward in surgical interventions for east Kent patients, allowing for more targeted procedures with better results and quicker recovery times.”
Following Lee’s successful operation, Stanley Russell from Herne Bay became the second patient to benefit from robotic surgery at QEQM. Russell was afforded a complete explanation from the surgical team about his procedure. He empathized with Lee’s sentiments. He recalled, “The team described everything in detail and really helped to reassure me that this option would be less painful than pursuing more invasive surgery and that made total sense.”
The introduction of robotic surgery at QEQM follows its first use by the NHS in London earlier this year, highlighting a shift towards advanced surgical techniques aimed at improving patient care. As patients like Lee and Russell embrace this innovative technology, the medical community anticipates further enhancements in surgical outcomes and recovery times.
